Orange Almond Chocolate Cookies (Printable)
Chewy cookies bursting with orange zest, roasted almonds, and dark chocolate chunks.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10 - Zest of 2 oranges
→ Add-ins
11 - 1 cup chopped roasted almonds
12 - 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chunks or chips
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract and orange zest until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
06 - Using a spatula, gently fold in the chopped almonds and chocolate chunks until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
07 - Scoop tablespoon-sized mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are golden but the centers remain soft.
09 - Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The orange zest perfumes the entire dough without needing extract, and it tastes genuinely fresh.
- Dark chocolate chunks pool into gooey pockets while the almonds keep every bite interesting with a dry roasted crunch.
- They freeze beautifully, so you can stash dough balls in the freezer and bake off a handful whenever the craving hits.
02 -
- Overbaking is the number one enemy here, pull them when the centers still look dewy and they will be perfect once cooled.
- Rubbing the orange zest directly into the sugar before creaming releases oils you cannot get any other way and it makes a noticeable difference.
03 -
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before scooping if your kitchen is warm, it prevents excessive spreading.
- A tablespoon of fresh orange juice added with the eggs boosts the citrus flavor without throwing off the texture.